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Helping the sustainable luxury fashion label maintain its brand reputation with responsive legal support for all its intellectual property needs.
Download the PDFLuxury fashion IP: Protecting the business behind the brand - Stella McCartney
Luxury fashion IP: Protecting the business behind the brand - Stella McCartney
Global IP partner to a sustainable fashion leader.
Strategic advice to support fast-paced product launches.
Protecting a luxury brand’s name, worldwide.
Another client success story, supported by Addleshaw Goddard.
Stella McCartney is the namesake luxury label of British designer Stella McCartney. Today the brand operates via directly owned boutiques, franchise stores and speciality and department stores, all around the world – including in the most famous fashion capitals. The brand also ships to more than 45 countries via online.
We began advising Stella McCartney as legal counsel in 2024. At the time, the portfolio of trade marks was of a size that resulted in substantial costs for our client. Our initial priority was to provide the brand with a more focused strategy in order to repurpose funds on protection of new designs and brand assets, and also free up time for key stakeholders in the business.
A few fast facts
What happened
We took over overall management of the business’ IP portfolio and swiftly resolved any previous issues via pragmatic and business-facilitative coexistence structures and moved to design and implement a triage style of IP reporting so that the team at Stella McCartney could continue to focus their attention on important business decisions, uninterrupted.
We understood the need for time sensitive advice when establishing a new product or commercial relationship. For example, our on-demand support for new product name choices means the business can make fast commercial choices with a full understanding of the relevant IP risks.
Our ongoing work focusses on being strategic with IP management so that the legal portfolio and enforcement work reflects the reality of the business’ priorities and direction of travel.
The outcome
Our in-depth understanding of the business’ wider operations and strategies means our advice across the board, from registration strategy to infringement and commercial issues, is of value.
Our luxury law group allows us to provide Stella McCartney with market-specific support and intelligence, including peer networking and events bespoke to the luxury space.
We’re proud to be the trusted legal advisor to Stella McCartney, and continue to work towards protecting, mobilising and empowering the team to own and use their brand in the best interests of the business.
We have been so impressed with Addleshaw Goddard since they took over management of our IP work. They just get ‘it’. They’re exactly how we want to work with external counsel. The team understands the industry that we work in and the requirement to be both responsive and pragmatic.
Key contacts
Emily Nuttall-Wood
Partner, Head of Luxury, Commercial Disputes
London
London
Jemma Green
Legal Director, IP: Litigation and Commercial Services
Leeds
Leeds
Tim Carter
Managing Associate / Registered Trade Mark Attorney
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
Joel McDonald
Head of Brands, Commercial
London, UK
London, UK
Sarah Stephens
Associate, Commercial Disputes
London, UK
London, UK
* correct at the time of publishing, subject to change